Pet toy juicer and food dispenser

Abstract

A pet toy is configured for receiving a food item. The pet toy comprises a durable and resilient outer wall, an interior chamber, and at least one opening for inserting and/or retrieving the food item. The outer wall can comprise one or more regions of greater rigidity and one or more regions of less rigidity. The pet toy is further configured to selectively retain the food item during a pet's play with the pet toy. After repeated or sufficient compression of the pet toy, the food item can be dislodged, in either a single piece or in multiple smaller pieces, from the pet toy as the pet's reward.

I claim: 
     
       1. A pet toy configured for receiving a food item, wherein the pet toy comprises:
 (a) a durable and resilient outer wall; 
 (b) an interior chamber, wherein the interior chamber is defined by the outer wall; 
 (c) an inlet formed in the outer wall providing access to the interior chamber, wherein the outer wall comprises a plurality of flaps, wherein the plurality of flaps surrounds the inlet; 
 (d) an outlet formed in the outer wall providing access to the interior chamber, wherein the outlet is separate and spaced from the inlet; and 
 (e) wherein the pet toy comprises one or more regions of greater rigidity and one or more regions of less rigidity created by rigidity enhancing members located within the interior chamber, wherein the rigidity enhancing members extend longitudinally in a continuous fashion from proximate to the inlet to proximate to the outlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The pet toy of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more regions of greater rigidity and one or more regions of less rigidity are created by varying the thickness of the outer wall. 
     
     
       3. The pet toy of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet comprises a slit. 
     
     
       4. The pet toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ribs located within the interior chamber. 
     
     
       5. The pet toy of  claim 1 , wherein the pet toy is capable of being turned inside-out. 
     
     
       6. The pet toy of  claim 1 , further comprising a pouch having an open structure and at least one pouch inlet, wherein the pouch is configured to hold the food item, wherein the pouch is configured to fit within the interior chamber of the pet toy. 
     
     
       7. A pet toy configured for receiving a food item, wherein the pet toy comprises:
 (a) a durable and resilient outer wall; 
 (b) an interior chamber, wherein the interior chamber is defined by the outer wall; 
 (c) an inlet formed in the outer wall providing access to the interior chamber; 
 (d) an outlet formed in the outer wall providing access to the interior chamber, wherein the outlet is separate and spaced from the inlet; 
 (e) a flap in communication with the durable and resilient outer wall, wherein the flap is configured to at least partially block the inlet; and 
 (f) wherein the pet toy comprises one or more regions of greater rigidity and one or more regions of less rigidity created by rigidity enhancing members located within the interior chamber, wherein the rigidity enhancing members extend longitudinally in a continuous fashion from proximate to the inlet to proximate to the outlet. 
 
     
     
       8. A pet toy configured for receiving a food item, wherein the pet toy comprises:
 (a) a durable and resilient outer wall; 
 (b) an interior chamber, wherein the interior chamber is defined by the outer wall; 
 (c) an inlet formed in the outer wall providing access to the interior chamber; 
 (d) an outlet formed in the outer wall providing access to the interior chamber, wherein the outlet is separate and spaced from the inlet; 
 (e) a plurality of ribs located within the interior chamber, wherein the plurality of ribs connect with a plurality of flaps formed in the outer wall and surrounding the inlet; and 
 (f) wherein the pet toy comprises one or more regions of greater rigidity and one or more regions of less rigidity created by rigidity enhancing members located within the interior chamber, wherein the rigidity enhancing members extend longitudinally in a continuous fashion from proximate to the inlet to proximate to the outlet.